World Bank begins ACReSAL project assessment in states

A joint team of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has begun its Nigeria Hybrid Implementation Support Mission for projects in 19 northern states, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Through ACReSAL, a World Bank-supported agency of the Federal Government, the government intends to restore one million hectares of degraded land in the northern part of the country. A total of four million hectares of degraded land is set for broader landscape restoration by 2030.

The project will also help reduce the vulnerability of millions of extremely poor people in northern Nigeria, strengthening their roles in achieving environmental sustainability.

With ACReSAL, the Federal Government strategises to check the menace of desertification, restoring degraded lands, developing special ecosystems and catalysing sustainable agricultural production in the 19 northern states, as well as FCT.

ACReSAL project will not only help reduce the vulnerability of millions of extremely poor people in the region but also empower them to play an active role in achieving environmental sustainability. A positive uniqueness of the project is its community-driven approach to setting up its projects.

Projects are tailored towards meeting the specific needs of the communities. These communities are forefront of understanding, owning, protecting and defending projects making them sustainable in the long run.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the joint World Bank, Food and Agricultural Organisation and Federal Government of Nigeria Hybrid Implementation Support Mission for the ACReSAL Project, Nasarawa State Governor, Sule Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, described the project as a beacon of hope for national agricultural development and landscape restoration in semi-arid regions like Nasarawa State.

Sule explained that Nasarawa State, like every other state in the nation’s semi-arid region, experiences the adverse effects of climate change, which threatens security and livelihoods. “Through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches like ACReSAL, we have the opportunity to build community resilience and ensure sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.

The governor applauded ACReSAL describing it as embodying the spirit of partnership and cooperation, bringing together government agencies, development partners, people from academia, local communities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and all to find solutions to our shared environmental challenges,”.

He was optimistic that there would be beneficial dividends in the agricultural sector as states collaborate on the ACReSAL project. He said: “Together, we will leverage the power of technology, research, and community engagement to transform our agricultural landscapes and secure a better future for generations to come.

“As we embark on this important project implementation journey, let us remain steadfast in our resolve, mindful of the impact of our actions, and responsive to the needs of our farmers and the community.”

Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Nigeria and Task Team Leader for the ACReSAL Project, Dr Joy Agene, explained that the mission aimed to assess the implementation of ACReSAL catalysed activities in the 19 Northern States and FCT that are participating in the project. The team would visit communities, inspect lands that have been marked for restoration and carry out activities under the Community Revolving Fund (CRF).

She put it on record that Nasarawa is one of the bright sparks among the states executing the ACReSAL project. In her view, ACReSAL would not be possible without the support of the leadership of Nasarawa State.

She disclosed that Nasarawa State will be one of the first states to qualify for the second phase of the ACReSAL Investment. According to her, for a state to access the fund, it has to show evidence of compliance with requisite parameters.

This is possible through appraising demonstrable commitment and technical capacity to carry out necessary interventions.

The purpose of the funding is to cushion the impact of climate change, help build the capacity of vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change and allow water to take its natural course in the state.

In his remarks, the National Project Coordinator for the ACReSAL Project, Mr Abdulhamid Umar, noted that the mission in Nasarawa state is to authenticate project implementation results and to see concrete deliverables of the four components of the ACReSAL project (FAO), Mr Precious Agbesor, commended the World Bank and Federal Government for the partnership. He noted that component B of the ACReSAL Project (Community Climate Resilience) is the heart of the project, and FAO is supporting ACReSAL under this component to restore 350,000 hectares of degraded land.

Also speaking, Nasarawa State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Napoleon Elias, outlined state-specific activities designed to enhance adaptive capacities and promote sustainable growth in the state.